Safer home for you and your loved ones
Moving into your newly renovated home can be nerve-wrecking, exhausting, and overwhelming.
What makes it worse? The smell of the brand new home that packs a strong pickle-like odour which is particularly stronger when the built-in furniture (i.e kitchen and wardrobe) cabinets are open.
Your family may start to complain of recurring eyes and throat irritation before you realise it may be caused by an excessive concentration of volatile organic compounds (VOCs) in your house.
The newly renovated house furnishing and finishes may release harmful chemical (VOCs) into the air for years through a process called off-gassing.
Potential sources of off-gassing ranges from construction materials to carpeting, built-in furniture, furniture, paint and number of household goods.
One of the most common chemical off-gassing is Formaldehyde.
Formaldehyde, a colourless and strong-smelling gas, is one of the many volatile organic compounds (VOCs) present in our home. It is found in products like glue, resin and varnish. Building materials, furniture and built-in furniture are the main sources of exposure to Formaldehyde in our home.
Formaldehyde has become a very important ingredient in the production of industrial resins including the adhesive that is used to bond engineered wood-based products (i.e. Plywood, Blockboard, MDF and Particle Board) but can be harmful in higher concentrations.
Our lifestyles have placed us in positions prone to inhaling such toxic fumes. While many people take precaution by wearing masks to shutting ourselves at home on smoggy days, is staying at home really safe?
Formaldehyde is in the air we breathe but at very low levels. The real health issue is in long-term exposure to high levels of Formaldehyde indoors. Although the amount of toxic fumes released from any one source decreases over time, studies have shown that some building materials can emit Formaldehyde for months, sometimes years, at levels 10 times higher than the acceptable limit.
ORGANISATION | WHAT THEY SAID | REFERENCES |
National Toxicology Program (NTP) (USA) | Listed Formaldehyde as “Human Carcinogen” | |
Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) (USA) | Classified that Formaldehyde may cause some type of cancers | |
National Cancer Institute (USA) | Concluded exposure to Formaldehyde may cause cancer | |
American Cancer Society (USA) | Concluded Formaldehyde have been linked to some types of cancer in humans | |
World Health Organization (Europe) | Classified Formaldehyde as carcinogenic to humans |
SOURCE |
TOPIC |
LINKS |
The Consumer Association of Singapore ​(The consumer 2014 issue 1) ​ |
Feeling sick after renovation |
|
South China Morning Post |
Chemical in home, renovation link to child leukaemia |
|
Singapore Zaobao |
Formaldehyde in the house exceeded the safe standard |
There are a few ways to prevent or reduce Formaldehyde emission depending on whether you are planning to, or have already renovated your house.
Act at the source
Select building materials low in Formaldehyde at the initial stage to minimise Formaldehyde build up.
Control temperature and humidity
More Formaldehyde is emitted when the surrounding temperature is warm and humid. Therefore controlling the temperature and humidity of the house could help combat this problem.
Formaldehyde removal service
While there is no 100% guarantee of its effectiveness, this solution is for those who have already renovated their house. Depending on the areas affected, this service can cost from hundreds to thousands.
Ventilation
When possible, open all windows to ensure good air circulation in the room, relying on range hood, bathroom fan and air exchanger when needed.
Prevention is better than cure. The best solution to battle against Formaldehyde is to choose certified low Formaldehyde products/materials, or look for Singapore Green Label certified products/materials.
This will help prevent you from facing more problems in regards to Formaldehyde at a later stage.
At E³.SPACE, we understand that the basic requirement for long lasting built-in furniture is closely linked to premium raw materials. Therefore we provide the finest quality wood-based material (melamine boards) imported from EGGER. Besides reliability, these materials also provide a safe interior for you and your loved ones. We recognise the importance of indoor air quality, therefore our products are low in Formaldehyde – providing you and your loved ones with a safer home.
E³.SPACE utilises materials from EGGER that comply with the highest Japanese Formaldehyde emission standard of F**** (0.03ppm) offering the lowest Formaldehyde emission currently in the market and is certified with Singapore Green Label.
Promises the lowest Formaldehyde emission standard in the industry
Sustainable construction and healthier living with EGGER wood-based material
Made from recycled material
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